The Government has given its backing to an ambitious scheme to build a £25 million new railway station and business park less than an hour away from Bristol.

The aim is for the new railway station to be at the heart of a huge business, retail and leisure development that could create 10,000 new jobs.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has backed plans for Cardiff Parkway Station, between Cardiff and Newport at St Mellons. The site has already been designated as a major future employment zone in Cardiff council’s local development plan and the developers will now be moving forward with a detailed planning application.

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The company is a joint venture company between Welsh entrepreneur Nigel Roberts and his son Andrew, who is managing director of Paramount Office Interiors, and global specialist bank Investec plc (which has a 49 per cent stake in the business).

Cardiff Parkway Developments’ board member and global CEO of Investec Bank, David van der Walt, told our sister title Wales Online: “I welcome the news today and look forward to working closely with Welsh Government in delivering this transformation project for south Wales."

The joint venture company will require a commitment that trains will stop there as part of the next Wales and Boarders franchise agreement, which is being devolved from the UK Government to the Welsh Government. The franchise becomes operational in October next year.

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The running of that franchise, as well as the next phase of the Welsh Government’s flagship Metro project with electrification of the Valley Lines, is subject to a live competitive procurement exercise, for which there are four bidders in Abellio, MTR, Keolis and Arriva Trains Wales.

Cardiff Parkway Developments is seeking at least four services (each way) every hour, for what would be a turn-up and go station between Cardiff and Newport.

Nigel Roberts: “This endorsement from Transport Secretary Chris Grayling is fantastic news, for what would be the first privately financed new rail station in Wales.

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"As well as the great support we have received in our various meetings with Mr Grayling and his team at the DfT and Network Rail, we have also received great support from the Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns, and cross-party support from Cardiff MP’s Stephen Doughty, who is the constituent MP, and the previous MP for Cardiff North Craig Williams.

Nigel and Andrew Roberts of Paramount Interiors

“We are looking for at least four services an hour through the station each way and we are having positive conversations with the Welsh Government’s Economy and Transport Minister, Ken Skates, who I must say has been very proactive on how that can be supported through the next Wales and Borders rail franchise.

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“The aim is for other services, like the Portsmouth and Manchester trains to south Wales, to also stop at the station. The next franchise on the Great Western Mainline is in 2021 and it will be our objective to get Cardiff Parkway designated as a station for service between South Wales and Paddington once we can prove demand.

“We also want Cardiff Parkway to be a key transport solution for major events in Cardiff, such as rugby international days and large concerts.

“We are now in pre-planning discussions with Cardiff council, starting this Friday, who through its leader Huw Thomas and Cabinet Member for Investment and Development Russell Goodway, can see the huge economic impact this project will have not just for St Mellons and Cardiff, but the wider Cardiff Capital Region”.

On the business, retail and leisure park, Mr Roberts said that over time it could create 10,000 jobs.

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He added: “We are already in dialogue with some exciting prospective tenants and those conversations will now be accelerated with today’s announcement, which provides certainty of an operational station by February 2020”

Mr Grayling said: I welcome a proposal for Wales’ first privately funded railway station at St Mellons. My department will work with those promoting the scheme as they develop their plans.

"The project was seeking a funding contribution from the Department for Transport and Network Rail’s New Station Fund 2, However, to speed up the process it has decided to fund it all privately.”